Jib hook magazine



Jafi. 1969 F. M. SCHAEFER, JR 3,421,470

JIB HOOK MAGAZINE Filed Feb. 5. 1968 IFIG. 2

United States Patent Oflice 3,421,470 Patented Jan. 14, 19 69 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A magazine for storing a sail equipped with a series of hook assemblies and comprising a longitudinally-extending base and a pair of longitudinally-extending flanges thereon, the flanges defining a longitudinal slot and shaped to provide a first portion and a second portion of lesser width than the first portion. One of the portions is adapted to receive the operating knob of the hook assemblies; the other to receive the axially slidable rod to which the knob and hook closure are secured. The dimensions of the flanges are such that, when the hooks are in the magazine, they retract the rods and closures and hold the assemblies in their open position.

This invention relates to sail boats and, more particularly, to a magazine for storing and permitting quick setting of a jib sail.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a magazine which holds all the hook assemblies which are attached to the jib for mounting the jib on the stay and holds them in alignment in their open positions so that they may all be hooked over the stay at once. Other objects include providing a magazine of the type mentioned which slidably engages the hook assemblies so that they may be withdrawn from the magazine and automatically closed after they have been placed on the stay.

The invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a magazine for storing a sail equipped with a series of hook assemblies and comprising a longitudinallyextending base and a pair of longitudinally-extending flanges thereon, the flanges defining a longitudinal slot and shaped to provide a first portion and a second portion of lesser width than the first portion. One of the portions is adapted to receive the operating knob of the hook assemblies; the other to receive the axially slidable rod to which the knob and hook closure are secured. The dimensions of the flanges are such that, when the hooks are in the magazine, they retract the rods and closures and hold the assemblies in their open position.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken together with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section of a magazine constructed according to the present invention with a hook assembly mounted therein; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the magazine of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a jib hook magazine 10 comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular block 12 and a pair of elongated, substantially step-shaped flanges 14 secured to opposite sides of block 12 by rivets 16, thereby forming a channel 18 having an open slot-shaped throat 26. Each flange 14 includes an elongated planer outer leg 20 secured to block 12, an elongated planer inner leg 22 parallel to leg 20, and a transition portion 24 generally perpendicular to and connecting legs 20 and 22. Flanges 14 are mounted on block 12 with legs 20 secured to block 12 and forming the sides of channel 18, legs 22 forming throat 26 which has a width less than that of channel 18,

and transition portion 24 in a plane substantially parallel with and spaced from the surface 30 of block 12 at the base of channel 18. The opposite end portions of inner legs 22 are rounded to provide a smooth, gradual rise or ramp 28 from the top of transition portion 24 to the top of the inner legs.

A jib hook assembly 40 including an actuating rod 42 which is axially movable within the shank 44 of hook assembly 40 is shown mounted in magazine 10. A spring 45 is provided within shank 44 for biasing the closure 46 at the top end of rod 42 which forms one of the jaws of hook assembly 40, against the fixed hook portion 48 of the hook assembly. Knob 50 having a diameter substantially greater than that of the remaining portion of rod 42 is provided at the bottom of the rod. A milled recess 52 is provided at the base of shank 44 adjacent knob 50.

When hook assembly 40 is mounted in magazine 10, flanges 14 hold it in its open position, in which closure 46 is spaced from hook portion 48. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, assembly 40 is secured to magazine 10 with knob 50 within channel 18 with the upper surface of the knob (nearest shank 44) engaging the inner surfaces 56 of flange transition portions 24. Rod 42 extends through throat 26 and the outwardly facing end surfaces 58 of flange legs 22 engage the bottom surface 54 of hook 40. The amount of book opening (the distance between closure 40 and hook portion 48) is determined by and is substantially equal to the width of legs 22 forming slotshaped throat 26.

As shown, hook assembly 40 is free to slide longitudinally along flanges 14 with knob 50 within channel 18. A U-shaped hook retainer 60, is provided adjacent each end of channel 18. Each retainer 60 includes a first leg 61 extending through a transverse hole in base 12 and a second leg 62 adapted for extending through a pair of holes 64 in leg portions 22 and thereby closing an end of throat 26. A spring 66 and nut 68 are provided on leg 61. Retainer 60 is moved from its closed position, in which leg 62 extends through holes 64, to its open position, in which leg 62 is outside throat 62 with the end of the leg engaging the outside surface of leg portion 22, by rotating nut 68 and moving the rertainer 60 axially relative to base 12 to withdraw leg 62 from holes 64 and then rotating the retainer to move leg 62 out of alignment with the holes.

In operation, a plurality of hook assemblies 40 are sewed to the lending edge of a jib sail by means of eyes 70 in the books. All the hook assemblies are mounted in magazine 10 in the order in which they are secured to the sail, each hook being held in its open (illustrated in FIG. 1) position and the open jaws of each hook assembly facing the same direction. By grasping magazine 10 by its handle 30, all the open hook assemblies may be secured over the jib stay at a single motion, one of retainers 60 is then opened and the hooks slid out of the open end of channel 18, whereupon the spring 45 within the shank 44 of each hook assembly 40 automatically moves closure 48 to its closed position, securing the hook assembly to the stay. To insert a hook assembly 40 into magazine 10, knob 50 is hooked into one end of channel 18, and the hook assembly slid longitudinally into the channel: Ramps 29 cam the hook assembly into its open position as it is slidably inserted into the magazine.

What is claimed is:

1. A magazine for storing a sail equipped with a series of hook assemblies,

each hook assembly comprising a hook portion, a

closure slidable axially of the assembly between a closed position remote from said hook, a spring biasing said closure toward its closed position, an actuating rod extending from said closure away from said hook portion and movable with said closure, and

a knob on said rod for said magazine comprising: an elongated .base member; and a pair of longitudinally-extending flanges on said base defining a longitudinal slot and shaped to provide a first portion and a second slotted portion of lesser width than said first portion,

one of said portions being adapted to receive the knobs of said hook assemblies and the other of said portions being adapted to receive said rods,

said flanges being so dimensioned as to retract said rods against said springs so as to hold said closures in their open positions while said assemblies are in the magazine, and

said flanges being open at least at one end to permit insertion and withdrawal of said assemblies endwise of the magazine.

2. The magazine of claim 1 including a hook assembly retainer provided adjacent said end of said flanges, said hook assembly retainer being movable between a first position in which said hook assemblies may be inserted into and removed from said magazine and a second position closing said end.

3. The magazine of claim 1 wherein said flanges are provided With ramp portions at said end to cam said assemblies to their open position as they are inserted into said magazine.

4. The magazine of claim 1 wherein at least one of said flanges comprises substantially parallel, longitudinally-extending spaced inner and outer legs and a transition portion extending between said legs, said first portion including said outer leg and said second slotted portion including said inner leg.

5. The magazine of claim 1 wherein each of said flanges includes substantially parallel spaced longitudinally-extending inner and outer legs and a transition pormanipulating said closure,

tion extending between said legs, the legs of one of said flanges being parallel to the legs of the other of said flanges, said first portion including said outer legs and said slotted portion including said inner legs.

6. The magazine of claim 5 wherein said flanges are open at both longitudinal ends thereof include ramp portions at said longitudinal ends to cam said assemblies to their open position as they are inserted into said magazine.

7. The magazine of claim 6 including hook assembly retainers provided adjacent said ends of said flanges, said hook assembly retainers being movable between first positions closing said ends and second positions in which said hook assemblies may be inserted into and removed from said magazine.

8. The magazine of claim 5 wherein said first portion is adapted to receive said knobs with said rods extending between said inner legs.

9. The magazine of claim 8 wherein said flanges are substantially step-shaped in cross-section, said outer legs defining a channel and said inner legs defining a slotted throat of said channel.

10. The magazine of claim 9 wherein said flanges are open at both longitudinal ends thereof and including hook assembly retainers provided adjacent said longitudinal ends, said hook assembly retainers being movable between first positions closing said ends and second positions in which said hook assemblies may be inserted into and removed from said magazine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner. 

